I should have been on my guard. Not even a year had passed since Irina's little stunt. Three seasons — nine months — what's that to a vampire? Kate still hadn't made a pass at me, and nine measly little months should not have been long enough to make me forget that she too was a succubus — the most powerful of them.

Kate bounced into the living room with Alice. "Hi, Edward!"

I looked up from the TV and smiled at her. "Hi, Kate." Alice waved wordlessly and headed up to change, thinking about what she would wear next. They'd been hunting together.

"Are you busy right now?"

"Not really." Buffy the Vampire Slayer was on, but it was a rerun. The vampires were all wrong in that show — the idea of some teenage girl being the death of me was laughable. But Joss Whedon always kept his viewers on their toes, so I enjoyed it. "What's up?"

"There's something I'd like to show you."

I was hesitant. "Okay."

"You have to come with me, silly."

"What are we going to see?"

The image of a bear flickered through her mind, but she immediately refocused on my face. "It's a surprise. Something very rare."

Unless she had intentionally planted that image — and even Carlisle wasn't that good — then she wasn't planning on trying anything. "Sure. Lead the way."

We ran side-by-side, skirting the mountain that stood between our families, then rounded its north slope. The night was old, but I could hear that no one was near. We crossed a snowfield and Kate slowed to a walk as we entered the trees. I could smell a large predator then, probably the bear I'd gotten a glimpse of. It was feeding off a caribou carcass — a bloodless one, I noted. It rose on it hind legs as we approached then slowly lowered to the ground as though falling asleep. Kate's talent, no doubt.

There were many among my kind who had remarkable gifts and talents, but none seemed so magical to me as Kate. Her power completely overrode the bear's own instincts. She sinuously sat down and cradled its head in her lap, stroking its neck. Only then did I notice that this was a kind of bear I'd never seen before. Its fur was predominantly white, though there were a few tan splotches, and its face was that of a grizzly.

"Is this what I think it is?" I asked.

She fought back a smile. Indeed he is, a grizzly — polar bear hybrid.

"How is that possible?" Bear mating wasn't an accidental thing. The courtship lasted weeks.

"I don't know," she said softly. "I've never seen anything like him before. I killed his mother this spring before I realized she had young. This little man and I have been friends ever since." I hunt for him.

When I bothered to think about animals, it was only as an insufficient substitute for what I really craved. Watching Kate affectionately pet a creature whose mother she had killed stirred a strange emotion in me. I wanted to protect Kate's adopted pet too. "Have the others seen him?" I hoped not.

Her eyes were soft. No. Not even my family. Just you — and Alice in vision of course. Kate's thoughts were quiet now, words stilled as she lost herself in the warm creature before her. I closed my eyes as well, listening to his pulse and breath, feeling his fur move under my hand as life flowed through him.

We sat there in easy contentment until night faded to day. Dawn came and a few stray sunbeams made their way through the trees. Kate shimmered in the rosy light like a young goddess — Persephone come to visit the tundra. The lesser of two evils is still evil. She met my gaze, and her smile was wistful. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you.

I looked at her questioningly, her arm scintillating as she resumed stroking him. The sun reminded me of what I am. When I'm like this, she nodded toward the bear, it's easy to forget.

"What do you mean?" I whispered softly.

Her smile faded. For the others, it is a choice between being a killer or being a lover, and eventually love won out over the thirst. But for me, it's a choice between killing the beast I adore or the man I love. In her mind, I saw a disrobed man laying on a bed, a bright red trickle dripping from his torn throat.

The image saddened me, and I thought of what Kate must have felt, a thousand of times over, as she slept with a man and then took his life. What had she said? It was a penance — a self-inflicted punishment for being what she was.

Just because I love men more, it does not mean I love the rest of creation any less. The lesser of two evils is still evil. She sighed. I wish there was a way to truly be a vegetarian vampire.

She was still Persephone, but in an everlasting winter — the fair, young visage of death. I felt great sorrow for her and laid my hand over hers.

"Thank you, Edward." Her sorrow softened to a grateful smile. "I hoped you would understand."

She leaned closer — to kiss me! I scrambled away, scooting several feet from her in my surprise.

Kate laughed softly, then stood, releasing the bear. He tore out of the clearing, but she ignored him. "Did I startle you?"

"Yes." I wasn't about to tell her just how much.

He's as skittish as a mouse. A coy smile played on her lips. "I'm sorry." She moved with deliberate slowness to come sit beside me again.

"Kate..."

She placed a finger on my lips. "Shh." Slow and gentle. There is nothing to be afraid of, sweetheart.

"It's not that I'm afraid..."

Kate chuckled softly. I slipped, didn't I, forgetting you hear my thoughts? You caught me in a weak moment.

My fingers wrapped around her wrist and I firmly pulled her hand away from my face. "As I was saying, I'm not afraid..."

Liar. Her eyes sparkled in amusement. I did it again, didn't I? But that one wasn't my fault. You're the one who's an awful liar. You're terrified. Do you really know me so poorly?

"I recall — the one time you had me in your grip — you mentioning that you could really have some fun with me."

Her eyes sparkled. "Oh, come on, Edward! It's not like I'm Irina!" Have you ever even been kissed?

"No. Not even a kiss."

Her finger traced my jaw. "For a hundred years, you've had a perfect, powerful, and very attractive body and have never once enjoyed it? What a waste!"

I could argue the morality of it — that I wasn't going to enjoy myself that way unless it was with my future wife — but I had a feeling it would fall on deaf ears. Whether I protested or not, she could do whatever she wanted to me. I chose my words carefully. "I don't want to be just another statistic, Kate."

She pouted. "You think it's just a numbers game to me? That I keep score? Edward, I'm hurt!"

Somehow, I doubted that.

Kate's eyes all but smoldered. Just one little kiss, Edward. It's nothing wrong, nothing indecent. She drew nearer, her breath tickling my skin. No promises, no expectations. Just a moment between dear friends. A moment that just might become something more.

No. "Kate." There was a warning in my voice.

She sat back and her brows furrowed in annoyance. "What?"

"Not even a kiss."

Her eyes grew hard, immobilizing me as she glared. "Look, Edward, we can do this the easy way or the hard way, but you're not going to leave here without at least giving me a kiss." She said kiss, but that wasn't the image in her head. "So what's it going to be?"

How in the world was I going to get out of this one? If I let her kiss me, I was certain it wouldn't stop there. And so was she. And as Kate was so clearly demonstrating, it was impossible for me to resist her.

She glowered expectantly, but I couldn't make my lips move to speak.

Oh! I forgot! Giggling at herself, she rolled her eyes, releasing me. "Well?"

Stall! "So let me get this straight," I said slowly. "I give you a kiss — just one — and I'm free to go?"

He underestimates what I can do in a single kiss. Her eyes sparkled in amusement. "If you wanted to, you could go then."

Then inspiration struck me. "I can't fight you, Kate," I sighed. "You win." Jumping to my feet, I pulled her roughly into my arms. She smiled smugly, victory in her eyes as I lowered my face toward hers.

Then I quickly drew her hand to my lips and gently kissed it.

She stared at me, dumbfounded, then burst out in laughter. You sly scrapper! Kissing my hand like I'm some high-born lady!

Relief washed over me and I smiled too. "So I'm free to go?"

Laughing too hard to speak, she waved me away with her hand. Go on, you! Before I change my mind.

She didn't have to tell me twice, and I turned to bolt, but I suddenly felt her holding me tightly from behind, her arms around my ribs. She kissed the back of my neck and said softly, "Gotcha!" Then, giggling, Kate finally set me free.

The next day after school, Esme called me in to her studio.

"What do you need?" I asked.

She didn't look up from her potter's wheel. To tell you how proud I am of you. A perfect gentleman. You left quite an impression on Kate.

I shook my head in disbelief. Kate talked to Esme about what she'd done? "You're kidding."

Esme recalled Kate's words for me. He kissed my hand, like some noble knight from my youth! Men resist and I restrain them, or they willingly embrace me. Never, in a thousand years of hunting, has my prey so courteously refused me. He completely undermined my will. How could I possibly rob Sir Galahad of his honor? You've done well, Esme. As one who stands in the place of his mother, you have a right to be proud. Virtuous beyond compare!

I could hear the smile in her voice. "You've won, Edward. Well done."